Vending machine



Aug. 22, 1933. w v, WElRICH 1,923,130

VENDING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l wnv, n @HVUM MMMQPM l VENDING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. Y2.2, 1933 VENDING MACHINE .Wallace v. weiric'h, chicago, Ill., assignor to 0. D. Jennings & Company, Chicago, Ill., a

Corporation of Illinois Application July 9, 1932. serial No. 621,556'

7 claims;

from the exterior. Heretofore it Vhas been necessary to open the locked cabinet surrounding the 10 machine `to gain access to the mechanism and in some'cases remove the mechanism from its closure or cabinet to rell the couponreservoir.

This relling is frequently done by persons unskilledV and unfamiliar with vending machines. This is particularly true where the machines are owned by one party and operated upon the premises of another who'obtains a certain percentage ofthe operating proceeds of the machine, but has no further interest in the machine. In such cases it is particularly desirable that'the owner of the premises be able to renll the coupon reser- .voir' withoutjnecessarily having access to the vending machine proper for coin reservoir. It is also desirable that somerecord be made of the number of tokens placed in the token reservoir. Itis the purpose of this invention,*therefore, "to provide means in a vending machine of the `above` character whereby the couponreservoir of the machine may be replenishedfwithout' opening or in any way permitting access to the interior of the machine, and whereby the number of tokens placed in the reservoir can also be determined Irom the exterior of the machine.

In accordance with this invention I have provided setting mechanism which, in effect, disassociates the Vending mechanismfrom the coupon reservoir` to permit nlling of the token reser- Avoir without operation of the vending mechanism and for automatically counting and registering the coupons placed in the machine, the setting mechanism being operable from Vthe exterior of "the machine' infsuch a manner as to eliminate the' necessity of Vopening the machine and toV eliminate all,possibilities of disputes between the proprietor of the'premises in which the machine is located and the owner of themachine or any others interested therein.

` Other novel features of Vconstruction and their advantages will lbe apparent from the following description given inpconnection withrthev drawtion of the setting mechanism embodying this invention,

Fig. 3 is fa similar fragmentary or partial side elevation of a slightly modinedform of my` in-V vention.

A.The inventionis illustrated as being applied to an electrically operated machine housed Vin any suitable attractive cabinet 1, Vhaving va coin slot 2 and an operating electrical switch 3 in the top thereof. The illustrated machine merchandises four varieties of confections' which Amay be seen through windows v4 and which maybe selectively purchased by operating buttons 6, the confection being dispensed through an opening 7 through which coupons or tokens will also be dispensed under certain Ypredetermined conditions. The type of machine is well known and need not be described in greater detail.`

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, a portion of the `base 8 and one end plate 9 Vof the dispensing mechanism is illustrated. In general,

g the machine is actuated by a coin controlled actuating member or arm 11 which carries a Vdog l2, pivoted thereto at 173, which engages a stationary dog 14 adjustably secured toran arm 16j/rigidlyl f secured to the end of the vending machine actuyating'shaft 1'7. The foregoing mechanismv isthe usual'construction in this ytype of. machine, one example of which is shown in the Hassman Patent 988,570, issued April 14, 1911,' vand therefore need 'not be described in further detail.y

To swing dog 12 in a counter-clockwise direction about itsv pivot to cause it to clear the. stationary ,dogV 14 when the actuating member is rotated,l as indicated in dotted line, a cam leverVv 13 is pivoted about a screw 19 threaded into the end frame in position to engage` dog 12. That is, lever 18 hasfa cam surface'21 which engages dog 12 when the lever is in its extreme counter-clockwise position and swings dog 12 in` a counterclockwise direction, causing it to clear iixed dog 14. LeverV 18 'is moved'intoV operative or inoperative position by. a slide 22 which has a depending ringer 231 carrying a pin 24which projects throughthe lower `end of lever 18 toV swing the latter about its pivot 19.j Slide 22 sfretained against the end plate 9 by guide 26 secured tothe end plate, and is further retained in its left position as viewed in Fig. 2 which the'ino'perative position of cam lever 18, by aspring 27.

Slide 22 is, of course, provided upon its'inn'er end with an arcuate slot 28 to permitpassageof pivot 19 and is lprovided upon its outer end with" Y an upstandingnger 29 which carries a pin f31 l whichis engagedby the bolt 32 of a lock 33 which extends through the side wall of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 1 and by means-of'which slide 22 may be moved to throw cam lever 18 into inoperative position whenever desired without opening or entering the cabinet. Bolt 32 is held in either of its two extreme positions by an O- center spring 34.l lWhen levei` v13 is moved into inoperative` position by movement of lock 33 to clear dog 12 of fixed lever 14, the coin controlled actuating arm may be operated repeatedly at will without actuating the vending mechanism, and" therefore coupons may be fed into thecoin chute and will be delivered into the token reservoir 36 in the usual manner. Y y

To count and register the coupons-thatare placed in the chute, a counter 37 is disposed within the cabinet adjacent the rear wall thereof, which wall is provided with an opening through which the dial of the counter may be observed. The counter is actuated by an arm 38 secured to the counter shaft to l'which ispivtally 'conl nected a link 39, (the center portion or which is broken away inFig.Y 2) the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the rear end of alever 41 pivoted intermediate its ends at 42 to the lend frame of the machine. Theoppo'site end of ,lever 41 is provided with an out turned flange or platform 43 which engages the lower end of dog 12 and, when permitted riseswith the dog under action of leaf spring 44 to pull link 39 downwardly and actuate Vcounter 37.

Intermediate pivot 42 and flange 43 lever 4l is provided with 'a shoulder 46 which engages pin 24', as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and prevents lever 41'from rising lwith dog 12 when slide 22 and pin 24 are in left position. When slide 22 Aand pin 124 are moved out or to the right 'by action of lock bolt 32, pin 24 Yclears shoulder 45 as illustrated in' dotted line position in Fig. 2 and permits lever 41 torise. The counter does not indicate an actuation of 'the operating lever 11 vwhen the vending machine is vbeing normally used to dispense meohandise as in this condition the slide is to the left. l

In Fig. 3 there is shown a'slightly modified form of relling setting Vmechanism and counter-actuating mechanism. In this form of my invention This the rell setting slide Vis designatedas 22a. slide is similar to slide 22 of 'the form of my invention shown in Fig. 2 with the exception that the pin 31, instead of engaging 'the vlock bolt directly carries a rod 47 which extends through the rear wall ofthe cabinet and terminates in a `knob 48. Within the interior of the cabinet rod 471s provided with a slot in its side whichv is engaged by a bolt 49 of a lock 51` which extends 'throughthe rear'wall of the cabinet instead of the side wall. In this form of my invention instead of the lock throwing the slide into inoperative position for refilling purposes, the knob '48 kmust be gripped by the operator toy pull the slide to the right into inoperative.' position. position an' exterior latch 52 may be pushed downward to engage the slot'in rod 47 which then lies 'upon the exterior of the cabinet to hold they slide out.

The counter actuating mechanism is also slightly modified asl can be seen from the drawings. In this form the arm 38 Aupon the counter shaft is connected by link 53 to onefend of avpivoted lever 54 and the lower'end ofthe lever terminates l in a foot 56 'which is engaged by a verticalvbar Y57 carried bycam lever 18 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. y `Bar 57 is secured to lever `18`by "a' vpair of'rlvets 58 'which' project throughy slots In this Y in the bar. Bar 57 is thereby permitted to move upwardly and ride over the footed end 56 upon the downward stroke of the cam lever 18. When camlever 18 and slide 22a are in retracted position, bar 57 isinclined to the right so as to clear lever 54, as is shown in full line in Fig. 3. Therefore, in the normal operating position the counter is not actuated. When the machine is set for Vrefilling however, bar 57 is moved to the left as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and engages lever `54 to actuate counter 37.

The koperation of either form of my invention is readily understood from the foregoing description and it can be readily appreciated that when it is desired to refill the coupon reservoir, slide 22' or 22a is moved outwardly or rearwardly of the machine by either the lock tumbler or by grasping knob 48 to throw cam 21 to the right to move dog 12A about its pivot so as to clear .xed dog 14. The same motion also throws the ymechanism of Fig. 3 may be used in place of that shown in Fig. 2 vor. vice versa, and that many other variations may be made in' the details 'of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

.1. In a coin controlled vending machine including a cabinet having mechanism therein for dispensing merchandise and coupons, a reser-r mechanisml while refilling the coupon reservoir,.- means extending through said cabinet to theI exterior thereof for operating said disengaging means to set the machine torelling'position, a

counter and `means yactuated by saiddisengaging means when the dispensing mechanism is'di'sengaged for actuating the counter to record Vthe coupons fed into the coupon reservoir, said latter means being inoperable when Ythe dispensing means is engaged. y f

3. In a coin controlled vending machine including a cabinet -having Ymechanism therein for dispensing merchandise and coupons including a coin controlled actuating member and a separate reservoir for coupons, means for disengaging the dispensing mechanismfrom operation bysaid member to permit 'independentuoperation of the latter to rell the coupon reservoir, means 'extending through the cabinet to the exterior thereof for operating said disengagin'g means,- a

4counter and connections forA operating said counter to record movements 'of said actuating iso member when operated independently of said dispensing mechanism.

4. In a coin oontrolledvending machine including a cabinet having mechanism therein for dispensing merchandise and coupons, comprising a coupon reservoir, acoin controlled actuating member, a pivoted dog carried thereby, a shaft for operating said dispensing mechanism and having a fixed dog thereon adapted to be engaged by said pivoted dog, armovable cam arranged to contact said pivoted dog when in one position to move the latter out of possible engagement with said xed dog to disengage the dispensing mechanism from operation by said actuating member, means extending through the cabinet to the exterior of said cabinet for moving said cam, means for vcounting the movements of said actuating member when the dispensing mechanism is disengaged, said counting means beinginoperable when the dispensing mechanism is set to beengaged bysaid pivot dog. Y

5. In a coin controlled vending machine including a cabinet having mechanism therein for dispensing merchandise and coupons, comprising a coupon reservoir, a coin controlled actuating member, a pivoted dog carried thereby,ca shaft for operating said dispensing mechanism and having a fixed dog thereon adapted to be vengaged by said pivoted dog, a movable cam arranged to contact said pivoted dog When in one position to` move the latter out of possible engagement with said xed dog to disengage the dispensing mechanism from operation by said actuating member, means extending through the cabinet to the exterior of said cabinet for moving said cam, means for counting the coupons placedin said reservoir vwhen the dispensing mechanism is disengaged,

' machine, a pivoted cam arranged to contact said pivoted dog when in one position to move the latter out of possible engagement with said fixed dog to disengage the dispensing mechanism from operation by said actuating member, a slide engaging said cam for swinging the latter, and lock controlled means operable from the exterior of said cabinet and connected to said slide for operating the same to swing the cam into engagement with said pivoted dog to disengage the dispensin mechanism without opening said cabinet.' 7. In a coin controlled AVVending machine including a cabinet having mechanism therein for dispensing merchandise and coupons, comprising a coupon reservoir, a coin controlled actuating 'member, a pivoted dog carried thereby, a shaft for operating said dispensing mechanism having a xed dog thereon adapted to be engaged byv said pivoted dog, a pivoted cam arranged to contact said pivoted dog Vwhen in one position to move the latter out of possible engagement with said fixed dog to disengage the dispensing mech- Y anism from operation by said actuating member, a slide engaging said cam for swinging the latter, va pivoted member lengaging said slide, and a lock mounted in a wall of the cabinet and connected to said member for actuating said slide. i

WALLACE V. WEIRIC. 

